Laundry machine



' Jan. 17, 1967 T. w. BANNON, JR

LAUNDRY MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1964 INIVENTOR 732M495 11/- Bmm oN, J4,

IUQZYm P ATTORNEY Jan. 17, 1967 T. w. BANNON, JR 3,293,207

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY PM 50 211 ATTORNEY5 Jain. 17, 1967 T. w. BANNON, JR 3,298,207

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Era/v45 M fiem/w/ /v,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Cfiice attain? Patented Jan. l7, 1967 3,28,207 LAUNDRY MAQHINE Thomas W. Brannon, In, East Moline, Ill, assignor to Ametelk, Inn, New York, N.Y., a corporation oi Delaware Filed Nov. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 408,550 7 Claims. Cl. 68-17) This invention relates to washer-extractors and particularly to an improved device for automatically adding supplies at predetermined times during the washing cycle.

During the conventional washing operation of a was] er-extractor, it is desirable and necessary to add cleansing agents such as soap, detergents, bleaching agents, water softeners, bluing and the like to the machine.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a supplies dispensing system and apparatus for washer-extractors.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a dis pensing system in which a plurality of supplies may be stored in separate trough-like compartments and introduced into the machine when required.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a system and apparatus in which the supplies are washed out of the trough-like compartments by jets of water.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a system and apparatus in which the compartments for holding the various supplies are removably mounted within a rack.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a system and apparatus in which dry as well as liquid' supplies may be dispensed.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a system and apparatus in which water jets are actuated by the operation of solenoid valves controlled by a cycle timer for the washer-extractor.

In one aspect of the invention, a washer-extractor may comprise a main housing within which a basket may be mounted for rotation. The basket may be mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, and the main housing is constructed to contain water through which the basket rotates to effect a washing operation on articles within the basket. The usual motor means may be provided for driving the basket, and exhaust fan means may be provided for Withdrawing vapor and moisture from the main housing during the extraction period of the washing cycle.

In another aspect of the invention, an auxiliary housing may be provided which may be attached to the main housing, and it may include a sump at its bottom with a line leading to the interior of the main housing for transporting supplies to the interior of the main housing at various points in the Washing cycle.

In still another aspect of the invention, a multi-tiered rack may be provided within the auxiliary housing for supporting a plurality of stacks of individual trough-like containers adapted to hold supplies to be used in the washing cycle.

In a further aspect of the invention, the containers may be elongated, channel-shaped members having one end closed and the other end open or partially closed. The containers may be mounted in the rack in an inclined position so that the open or partially closed ends are at a lower elevation than the closed ends.

In a still further aspect of the invention, separate U- shaped pipes may be mounted within the rack at the elevation of the top edge of each container, and they may include jet openings for directing water jets in sheet form downwardly along the side walls of each container so as to loosen and float out the supp-lies within the container.

In another aspect of the invention, separate solenoid valves may be provided for each of the U-shaped jet tubes so that each can separately be supplied with water independently of the others.

In still another aspect of the invention, certain of the containers are adapted to contain liquid supplies and may be provided with a dam or weir arrangement at their lower ends, providing a self-priming siphon to empty the containers.

In a still further aspect of the invention, the solenoid valves may be wired into the cycle timer control circuit so that during the washing cycle, the various supplies may be automatically dispensed into the main housing at the proper point in said cycle.

The above, other objects and novel features of the improved automatic dispensing system and apparatus will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a washer-extractor to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional elevational view of the auxiliary housing and stacked supply containers;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of one of the supply containers, enlarged to approximately full size;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one form of the supply containers;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the system;

FIG. 7 is a sectional elevational view of another form of supply container; and

FIG. 8 is a wiring diagram for the dispensing apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to a washerextractor including an outer housing lltl within which a shell ll is provided for housing a hollow cylindrical basket 12. Basket 12 may have a perforated peripheral Wall and be fixed to a shaft 13 extending to the outside of housing ltl where it is journaled in bearings 14 on standards 15. A motor to on housing to is belted to a pulley 1'7 fixed to shaft 13 through belting 18. A reversing motor 19 may be drivingly connected to the armature shaft of motor 16 through belt gearing it}. In this way, when motor 16 is de-energized and motor 19 is energized, basket 12 may be rotated in forward and reverse directions at relatively slow washing and tumbling speeds; and when motor 19 is de-energized and motor 1.6 is energized, the latter rotates basket 12 at a high extracting speed.

A duct 21 leading from shell 11 is connected to an exhaust fan 22 for exhausting vapors and steam from the interior of shell 11. A drain 22A may be provided for draining the shell 11.

Referring to FIG. 2, an auxiliary housing 23 may be mounted on a bracket 24 fixed to stationary shell ill. The auxiliary housing 23 may include a sump 25 at its bottom, from which a duct 26 extends through shell 11 to the interior thereof. The auxiliary housing 23 may be provided with partitions forming a plurality of stacked compartments 27, there 'being six such compartments shown in the embodiment disclosed. The compartments 27 are formed so that their forward outer ends are at a higher elevation than their rear inner ends as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, separate channel-shaped containers 28 are adapted removably to be inserted within each compartment 2'7. The containers 28 may include vertical side Walls 29 joined by a curved base 35 In FIG. 5, the container 28 has one end closed by a wall 31 to which a handle 32 is attached, and the other end open. The form of container 28 shown in FIG. 7 is provided with a dam or weir arrangement 33 at the end opposite the closed end for a purpose to be described later.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, a separate U-shaped line 34 is located in each compartment 27 with its parallel leg portions 35, 36 lying along and above the vertical walls 29 of the containers 2%. Downwardly directed jet openings 37 may be provided along the underside of the legs 35, 36 of lines 34 and also along the portion 38 of said line joining legs 35, 36. It is to be noted that the portions 38 overlie the sump 25, and water from the jet openings 37 in these portions 38 flushes the sump 25. Additionally, it is to be noted that water from the jet openings 3'7 in the legs 35 and 36 forms a sheet of water that is directed downwardly along the inside surfaces of the walls 29 f the containers 28 so that any solid supplies within the containers will be undercut and floated out of the inclined containers 28, falling downwardly into the sump 25.

In order to supply water to the lines 34, a manifold 39 is connected to a supply line 40. Lines 41 and 42, leading from manifold 39, have solenoid operated valves 43, 44 therein and said lines may be connected to U-shaped lines 34 through flexible tube connectors 45. There is an identical valve and line arrangement for each elevation of containers 28, and the construction is such that each container 28 has its own water jet system controlled by its own solenoid valve. Referring to FIG. 8, the solenoid valves 43 and 44 for each elevation of compartments 27 are wired into a cycle timer controller 46 which controls the cycle of the laundry machine, only the wiring for the solenoids 43 and 44 being shown.

From the foregoing it is evident that each of the containers 28 may be preloaded with a desired sup-ply to be added to the interior of shell 11 at preselected points throughout the washing cycle. The various solenoid valves can, of course, be wired into the cycle timing circuit so that at predetermined intervals through the washing cycles, the solenoid valves 43, 44 can be energized to dispense the desired additive to the interior of shell 11. Furthermore, should the additive be a liquid, containers having the dam or weir arrangement 33, as shown in FIG. 7, may be employed. Additionally, by emptying the bottom containers 28 before the top ones, the sump is kept clean by the disc-barge above it; and the spray from the portion 3% of the top pipes 34 cleans sump 25 during the final addition of supplies,

Although the various features of the improved multiple dispensing system and apparatus have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washer-extractor, the combination comprising a stationary inperforate shell; a hollow cylindrical basket having a perforated peripheral wall mounted for rotation within said shell; means for supplying water to said shell; means for draining said shell; an auxiliary housing adjacent said shell, said auxiliary housing having a sump at its bottom and a duct leading from said sump to the interior of said shell; means within said auxiliary housing providing a plurality of elongated stacked compartments therein; removable channel-shaped container means within each of said compartments; separate flushing means for each container; and separate valve means for controlling the flushing of each of said containers.

2. In a washer-extractor, the combination comprising a stationary imperforate shell; a hollow cylindrical basket having a perforated peripheral wall mounted for rotation within said shell; means for supplying water to said shell; means for draining said shell; an auxiliary housing adjacent said shell, said auxiliary housing having a sump at its bottom and a duct leading from said sump to the interior of said shell; means within said auxiliary housing forming inwardly inclined compartments; inwardly inclined separate removable containers within each compartment, said containers being channel-shaped; separate flushing means for each of said containers; and separate valve means for controlling the flushing of each of said containers.

3. In a washer-extractor, the combination comprising a main housing having a stationary imperforate shell therein; a hollow cylindrical basket having a perforated peripheral wall mounted for rotation within said shell; means for supplying water to said shell; means for draining said shell; an auxiliary housing adjacent said main housing, said auxiliary housing having a sump at its bottom and a duct leading from said sump to the interior of said shell; means within said auxiliary housing forming a plurality of inwardly inclined compartments at different elevations therein; inwardly inclined separate removable containers within each compartment said containers being channel-shaped and at least partially open at one end; separate flushing means for each of said containers; and

separate valve means for controlling the flushing of each of said containers.

4-. In a washer-extractor, the combination comprising a main housing having a stationary imperforate shell therein; a hollow cylindrical basket having a perforated peripheral wall mounted for rotation within said shell; means for supplying water to said shell; means for draining said shell; an auxiliary housing adjacent said main housing, said auxiliary housing having a sump at its bottom and a duct leading from said sump to the interior of said shell; means within said auxiliary housing forming a plurality of inwardly inclined compartments at different elevations therein; separate removable containers within each compartment, each container including vertical, parallel, spaced side walls, one end Wall and open at the opposite end; separate flushing means for each of said containers; and separate valve means for controlling the flushing of each of said containers.

5. In a washer-extractor, the combination comprising a main housing having a stationary imperforate shell therein; a hollow cylindrical basket having a perforated peripheral wall mounted for rotation within said shell; means for supplying water to said shell; means for draining said shell; an auxiliary housing adjacent said main housing, said auxiliary housing having a sump at its bottom and a duct leading from said sump to the interior of said shell; means within said auxiliary housing forming a plurality of inwardly inclined compartments at different elevations therein; separate removable containers within each compartment, each container including vertical, parallel, spaced side walls, one end wall and a partially closed end wall at the opposite end forming a weir; separate flushing means for each of said containers; and separate valve means for controlling the flushing of each of said containers.

6. In a washer-extractor, the combination comprising a main housing having a stationary imperforate shell therein; a hollow cylindrical basket having a perforated peripheral wall mounted for rotation within said shell; means for supplying water to said shell; means for draining said shell; an auxiliary housing adjacent said main housing, said auxiliary housing having a sump at its bottom and a duct leading from said sump to the interior of said shell; means Within said auxiliary housing forming a plurality of inwardly inclined compartments at different elevations therein; separate removable containers within each compartment, each container including vertical, parallel, spaced side walls, one end wall and open at the opposite end; pipes lying along the top longitudinal edges of said side Walls having downwardly directed jet openings therein arranged to direct water jets downwardly along the inner faces of said side walls; means connecting said pipes to a manifold; and valve means for controlling the flow of water from said manifold to said pipes.

7. In a Washer-extractor, the combination comprising a main housing having a stationary imperforate shell therein; a hollow cylindrical basket having a perforated peripheral wall mounted for rotation Within said shell; means for supplying water to said shell; means for draining said shell; an auxiliary housing adjacent said main housing, said auxiliary housing having a sump at its bottom and a duct leading from said sump to the interior of said shell; means within said auxiliary housing forming a plurality of inwardly inclined compartments at different elevations therein; separate removable containers within each comprtrnent, each container including vertical, parallel, spaced side Walls, one end wall and open at the opposite end; U-shape pipe means having their parallel legs lying along the top edges of said side walls and the connecting pipe means between said legs lying over said sump, there being downwardly directed jet openings in said legs and connecting pipe means; means connecting said pipe means to a manifold; and valve means for controlling the flow of water from said manifold to said pipe means.

References Cited by the Examiner WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM I. PRICE, Examiner. 

1. IN A WASHER-EXTRACTOR, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A STATIONARY INPERFORATE SHELL; A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL BASKET HAVING A PERFORATED PERIPHERAL WALL MOUNTED FOR ROTATION WITHIN SAID SHELL; MEANS FOR SUPPLYING WATER TO SAID SHELL; MEANS FOR DRAINING SAID SHELL; AN AUXILIARY HOUSING ADJACENT SAID SHELL, SAID AUXILIARY HOUSING HAVING A SUMP AT ITS BOTTOM AND A DUCT LEADING FROM SAID SUMP TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID SHELL; MEANS WITHIN SAID AUXILIARY HOUSING PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED STACKED COMPARTMENTS THEREIN; REMOVABLE CHANNEL-SHAPED CONTAINER MEANS WITHIN EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS; SEPARATE FLUSHING MEANS FOR EACH CONTAINER; AND SEPARATE VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLUSHING OF EACH OF SAID CONTAINERS. 